By Grand Knight, Ron Gay:
Brothers,
It has been a busy December for our Council. As usual, we started our month with a pancake breakfast. Thanks to Russ Kellen’s team, and our Squire’s Circle for an excellent Sunday breakfast.
Next came our second annual Wine & Cheese Fundraiser. We had around 80 people attend and we raised $2,500 with our Nativity scene auction. Our Council will send $800 to six parish ministries for their participation in the Nativity scene auction. This year’s Wine & Cheese fundraiser will clear almost $3,800 for our Council’s Charity obligations. I want to lift up Darrell Lovelette for his efforts in securing the wines for the tasting from Messina Hof Winery. Thanks also to Al Mazoch and Bob Albanese for helping with the set-up. Thanks to our wine stewards C. J. Romero, Bob Albanese, Al Mazoch, Larry Hubbell, Gary Richardson, Darrell Lovelette, Don Parsons, Paul Marvin, Whitley Cave and Dan King. Aubrey Hunt provided our background music and she was fantastic.
Last Thursday night we had a fantastically successful Clergy Appreciation Dinner. We had 150 people in attendance as we offered special recognition to our Clergy. Bishop Joe Vasquez was very pleased that our Council took the time to honor all of the Priests, Deacons, and Religious in our Deanery. Thanks to Tom Zike and Michael Vidrine for all of their hardwork in organizing and setting up this year’s Clergy Dinner. Thanks to Al Mazoch, C. J. Romero, James Supak and Michael Herring for providing the Fourth Degree Color Guard. Thanks to Al Mazoch, Bob Albanese, Tom Zike, Leonard Muesse, Mark Olivieri, Russ Kellen, Michael Hlavinka, C. J. Romero, Kevin Biasiolli and Whitley Cave for helping with the set-up. Big, big thank you to Lilly Muesse who made all of the table decorations, and to Terri Gay who helped Lilly decorate the tables. Thanks also to Russ Kellen for providing the background music, and thanks to Gary Richardson and Whitley Cave who served the beer and wine. I’d like to lift up our parish STAY group and Brother Ed Styduhar for cleaning up after the dinner. Finally, I want to thank all of our Brother Knights and their wives along with the parishioners of St. Thomas Aquinas who showed up to honor our Clergy.
I want to lift up Fr. Edwin and Fr. Uche for all of their support of these important Council activities. They both played an active role in both functions and they would not have been successful without their presence and prayers of support.
Now it’s time to turn our attention to the Super Bowl Chili Cook coming up in February.
Terri and I wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year! God bless you one and all, you are the greatest Knights of Columbus Council in the Order.
Ron Gay, FSD
Grand Knight
